Unknown Trail in the Santa Rosas

[halhiker]

Went out yesterday with a buddy up the Sawmill Road. Went down a trail that took off from the road on the left and wonder if anyone knows anything about it. It's not too far up the road and it runs parallel to the Cactus Spring Trail about 500 vertical feet higher. Looks like a well made trail and not just a use trail. I followed about a mile and had to go back but it looked like it continued.

Anyone know anything about this, who built it and where it goes?

[guest]

Would like to check that out sometime, it might be the trail some of the locals take to their "mancave", complete with massive quantities of adult beverages, other amenities, and the site of many a "tall tale": relieved many a time!

ss

[bluerail]

Welcome home Scotty !!

[Ulysses]

I think I know that road, but I have never followed it to the end. I assume that it was used in the past to serve the old dolomite mine. Pretty sure that it splits off from the Cactus Spring trail and Sawmill road and then joins the Cactus Spring trail again near the mine.

BTW how were the temps on the Sawmill road? How far did you go?

Looking forward to some cooler weather and hiking in the Santa Rosa.

[Perry]

Does anybody else here mountain bike?

[The Ghost]

Hal,

Think you might be refering to the trail that is about a 3 /4 mile above the water tanks right before The Sawmill takes a sharp right. It is not a Mtn. Bike trail or is it visiable from Hwy 74.

Have explored it twice in last 3 years and hope to go back soon. Starts as a old road, goes past a shallow mine shaft and becomes a decent but faint trail marked with cairns and blue ribbon for atleast 1.5 miles to East/Southeast. We ended up at a large canyon that flows into Horsethief Creek. Could not find any cairns or markers past that canyon.

Have no idea what it is or why the trial exists. Two possible theories... an old Indian trail that continues in the Cactus Spring /Pinyon Flat area or a Pot Farm trail (unfortunatly).

[zippetydude]

Does anybody else here mountain bike?

I do. And I've done a mountain bike / hike / run with Fern and Steve. It's a lot more fun on the way down!

Whatcha got in mind? Maybe we could get a few of us together. I have an old beater truck and a couple of passable bikes if someone wanted to go but didn't have a bike, I could bring extras.

z

[bluerail]

Me and Cat will drive the truck :0) !!

text me..lmk what your thinkin.

[zippetydude]

You know, a trip out to Calico this October would be a blast. Steve, I'll give you the keys to the car as long as you let cat drive anywhere she wants. There's a dry lake bed, and all my kids have learned to drive there, free from traffic and curbs. It's actually a ton of fun.

Also, we could do a trail run/mountain bike trip out to Ends of the Earth, a remote but amazingly pretty overlook of vast stretches of desert below.

I'll check the busy work schedule and text you.

z

[halhiker]

Hal,

Think you might be refering to the trail that is about a 3 /4 mile above the water tanks right before The Sawmill takes a sharp right. It is not a Mtn. Bike trail or is it visiable from Hwy 74.

Have explored it twice in last 3 years and hope to go back soon. Starts as a old road, goes past a shallow mine shaft and becomes a decent but faint trail marked with cairns and blue ribbon for atleast 1.5 miles to East/Southeast. We ended up at a large canyon that flows into Horsethief Creek. Could not find any cairns or markers past that canyon.

Have no idea what it is or why the trial exists. Two possible theories... an old Indian trail that continues in the Cactus Spring /Pinyon Flat area or a Pot Farm trail (unfortunatly).

That's the one! I wondered if maybe it went toward Horsethief Creek and the Forest Service was building it as an alternative to the Cactus Springs Trail. The trail appears to be in pretty good shape and if it were to go all the way to Little Pinyon Flat would be a great shortcut to Martinez or Aqua Alta. Can't wait to follow it again and see if there's a way into Horsethief or beyond from it.